Naples, Florida

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Centuries before Christopher Columbus, the powerful Calusa Indians occupied the region known today as Collier County, where Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City are located. The Seminoles came into the area in the 1700s and after repeated clashes with the white settlers they were ultimately defeated in 1845. However, Southwest Florida remained virtually uninhabited until after the Civil War. By the early 1900ís, cattle ranching had been established and in the 1920ís the railroads began to open southwest Florida to further expansion. From 1950 until 1980 Collier County grew from just over 6,000 to a population of 85,000. It has been one of the fastest growing areas in the US over the last 20 years. Today its population tops 275,000. http://www.naplesgov.com/

Naples is a small city of 24,000 people located on the Gulf coast. It is well known for its agreeable climate, with long, fairly hot summers followed by mild winter months with temperatures in the 70s from Thanksgiving through the Easter season. It is also widely known for its white sand beaches, world-class resorts, sophisticated boutiques, abundant golf courses, vital cultural scene, top-notch restaurants, and outstanding shopping. In early times, Naples was a haven for the rich and famous, attracting both captains of industry and stars from the entertainment world to this discrete, luxurious location.

Naples offers shopping that is well beyond what you would expect in a city of its size.You can find superb jewelry, elegant clothing and accessories, unique specialty items, home furnishings, antiques, and elegant works of art. Its dining options are equally impressive. You can have a hardy breakfast, a light lunch at a sidewalk cafe, and you can choose a very elegant gourmet dinner, or even dinner theatre. Naples is also a very staunch supporter of the arts, as witnessed by its busy arts calendar.

The Naples area has outstanding sports and recreation opportunities, with miles of beaches, a great many parks and activities centers. It also has world-class medical care alternatives.

Arts and Culture

The Collier Museum is named for Barron Collier, the entrepreneur who was instrumental in the completion of the Tamiami Trail. It features a history of Collier County, looking back over 10,000 years. There are five acres of native gardens, two early Naples cottages, swamp buggies and a logging locomotive. Special programs and exhibitions are presented year-round. http://www.colliermuseums.com/home.php

The Naples Museum of Art includes a three-story,15-gallery visual arts center featuring a world-class permanent collection. It also features traveling exhibitions and exclusive shows. http://www.thephil.org/museum/museum.html

Naples Philharmonic Orchestra is an 85-piece orchestra that performs classical, pops and chamber concerts. It is increasingly recognized as one of the leading orchestrasin the United States. http://www.thephil.org/orchestra/orchestra.html

The Philharmonic Center, which opened in 1989, features both performing and visual arts in a single complex. Its 1,221 seat main hall is home the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. It also has a 200-seat black box theater, and four museum-quality art galleries. Each season it hosts more than 400 individual events. http://www.naplesart.org/

Recreation

With over 35 golf courses, Naples has the highest ratio of golf courses to golfers in the USA. Public tennis facilities in Naples are also numerous and considered among the best anywhere. One of the parks even has hydro-watered Har-Tru courts. The YMCA has the Beckler Tennis Center with 10 Har-Tru courts. It holds the largest amateur tournament in Southwest Florida with as many as 700 entries.

Naples offers virtually all water sports ñ and much of it is available year-round. There are miles of white sand beaches with good shelling. There is kayaking, sailing, or cruising, and the temperate waters offer good year-round fishing. Whether you prefer going offshore, or fishing the beaches, canals or backwaters there is a great environment here for you.

There are 17 parks in the area with activities for all ages. There are basketball courts, volleyball courts, lighted tennis courts, lighted softball fields jogging trails, open play areas, picnic areas, shuffleboard courts, swimming pools , a boat-launching ramp, boating and fishing, and more.http://www.naplesgov.com/Departments/Parksand Recreation.aspx

Education

International College offers Associate in Science, Bachelor of Science and master-level degree programs. It also offers continuing education programs including English as a second or foreign language, and lifelong learning classes for senior citizens. http://www.ohwy.com/fl/h/hx367884.htm

Edison Community Collegeís Collier County Campus is an 80-acre site located in Naples. The complex includes all of the facilities for a small stand-alone college campus. Courses leading to Associate in Arts, Associate in Science or certificate programs, as well as non-credit continuing education classes, are offered. http://www.edison.edu/index.htm

Hospitals

The NCH Healthcare System in Naples is said to be one of the most progressive in the country. More than just a couple of hospitals, it is an alliance of more than 500 independent physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Collier County and southwest Florida. http://www.nchmd.org/

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